Best Overall

Amika Perk Up Dry Shampoo

$29

$27 at Amazon$29 at Sephora$29 at Ulta

Size: 5.3 oz| Scent: Fruity, vanilla| Cruelty-Free: Yes

Simply put, Amika’s talc-free option checked all the boxes expected of a truly great dry shampoo. It reduced oil and added a boost of volume; its clear formula left behind absolutely zero residue; and it imparted a scent—with notes of warm vanilla, spicy sweet clover, and fresh citrus, according to the brand—that was sophisticated but not overpowering.

Perhaps most impressive is its virtually invisible look and feel. Upon spraying it onto the hair, it felt so lightweight that it was almost unnoticeable. But, once our tester, Emily, massaged it into her roots, it added a boost of volume with no residue or buildup whatsoever—a huge win, particularly for those with scalps that are sensitive to irritation from leftover product. It was also incredibly long-lasting. After just one application, its volumizing effects lasted for four days, setting it apart from others we tested.

Emily Cieslak, associate editor with straight, bleach-blonde hair: “After massaging this product into my roots, I could see the oil go away—my hair had more lift and body. I didn’t wash my hair for four days after applying it, and it still looked fresh. Amika’s dry shampoo can really extend the life cycle of your wash days.”

Best for Dark Hair

Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo for Dark Tones

$29

$28 at Amazon$30 at Sephora$30 at Ulta

 Size: 1.7, 5.4 oz | Scent: Floral and amber | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Those with dark hair know that sometimes, when you’re attempting to use dry shampoo to make your hair look cleaner, it does the opposite by leaving a white residue at your roots. While this one initially goes on with a slight white cast, it completely dissipates after gently blending it in with your fingertips. Aside from how seamlessly it blended into her brunette hair, our tester raved about how well it absorbed oil and added volume to her usually flat hair. She was able to preserve the look of her blowout and go four days without washing her hair. Lastly, she noted how incredible the classic Moroccanoil floral and amber scent left her hair smelling.

Amanda Rosenthal, former writer with fine, dark hair: “While this brunette-intended pick goes on white, with just a few touches, it blends into my hair and looks virtually undetectable. It truly is the next best thing to a full wash.”

Best Drugstore

Dove Volume and Fullness Dry Shampoo

$16

$15 at Amazon$8 at Target

$19

$8 at Walmart

 Size: 5 oz | Scent: Clean, fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Dove’s Advanced Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo was our top drugstore option—it delivers solid results at a very affordable price. I tested this one and found that it effectively absorbed oil and post-gym sweat while adding noticeable body at the roots, giving my type 1C hair a refreshed look throughout the day. Its spray application was also seamless; its nozzle distributes product evenly without feeling too heavy. While it does leave a slight white cast upon application, it blends in with a quick finger massage and brushing through the hair for a soft matte finish without visible residue. 

The biggest drawback for me was its scent, which lingered throughout the day and smelled more like a deodorant. While scent preferences are subjective, this could be challenging for those sensitive to strong fragrances. Additionally, after multiple uses, I noticed some product buildup on my scalp. However, none of this was a dealbreaker, particularly for a product that delivers oil absorption and added volume for under $10.

Best for Post-Workout

K18 AirWash Dry Shampoo

$48

$46 at Amazon$48 at SephoraView on K18hair.com

Size: 4 oz | Scent: Subtle fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Post-workout, the hair and scalp can feel greasy, grimy, and even wet. K18’s AirWash Dry Shampoo is our go-to product for this exact scenario. During testing, the liquid mist formula worked really well when our tester’s hair was slightly damp; it absorbed moisture, sweat, and grease as it dried along with the hair. It does look a bit white or powdery at first, but once our tester, Shannon, zhuzhed and blow-dried it, it blended in with dark, red hair seamlessly, though it did leave a little bit of residue. (It reminded us of a texturizing spray.)

Post-blending, this product added serious volume to greasy roots and helped curls hold their shape incredibly well—it gives strands some grip. It also worked overtime to neutralize odors, though our tester felt the product itself didn’t have a very strong scent. Overall, the results impressed us; after one application, our tester went nearly a full week without washing her hair.

Shannon Bauer, former associate editorial director with curly hair: “This product gave me so. much. volume. After applying it, my curls held up perfectly—even on a humid day when normally they would frizz and fall limp. I went nearly a full week without washing my hair; I used this product on days three and five.”

Best Volumizing

Dae Fairy Duster Dry Shampoo

$30

$29 at Amazon$30 at Sephora$30 at Kohls.com

Size: 1 oz | Scent: Citrus | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Dae’s Fairy Duster Volumizing Dry Shampoo was designed with, yes, volume in mind, and it more than lived up to its promise. After one application, it instantly gave fine, flat hair a boost of volume that lasted all day. Those with oil-prone hair should also reach for this product; our tester Ashley’s hair felt nearly as clean and fresh as it did when applied initially, as well as soft and touchable. This product’s fresh yet subtle citrus scent was even more icing on the cake. Since it’s a non-aerosol concentrated powder, we felt its pump-style nozzle could create a mess if misused, but it’s all about getting a feel for it.

Ashley, tester with straight, fine hair: “This is the first dry shampoo I’ve found that lasts all day. I also love how much volume it gives me. The clean ingredients are a bonus—this is a product I’d feel comfortable letting my daughters use.”

Best Residue-Free

BondiBoost HG Dry Shampoo

$28

$24 at Amazon$28 at Sephora$28 at Ulta

Size: 3.95 oz | Scent: Rosemary | Cruelty-Free: Yes

BondiBoost’s HG Volumizing Dry Shampoo earns our pick for the best residue-free dry shampoo thanks to its lightweight formula that absorbs quickly without leaving behind any noticeable film or white cast. Our tester, Ally, who typically waits seven days between washes, found that this dry shampoo refreshed her hair effortlessly while maintaining its natural look and feel. Its even, gentle spray made the application seamless, and the product blended easily into her medium-to-fine 2C/3A waves. She also noted that it provided an instant volume boost, giving her hair a soft, beachy texture. 

While this dry shampoo didn’t leave any visible residue, Ally noted that using it for multiple days in a row led to slight buildup and mild scalp itchiness. Additionally, those sensitive to fragrance may find its rosemary scent a bit strong. But for anyone seeking a dry shampoo that blends into the hair and delivers fresh, voluminous results, BondiBoost’s formula is a standout choice.

Ally Hirschlag, former associate editorial director with type 2C/3A hair: “I get an immediate volume boost after using this dry shampoo—my hair texture looks like I’ve just been walking on the beach (in a good way). It’s amazing that a dry shampoo can do all that without leaving a film behind.”

Best Powder

Crown Affair The Dry Shampoo

$60

$54 at Amazon$48 at SephoraView on Crownaffair.com

Size: 1.1 oz | Scent: Bergamot, yuzu, lemongrass | Cruelty-Free: Yes

When dry shampoos come to mind, most of us think of a spray application, but dry shampoo powders are a thing, too—and they can be equally effective. This formula, which comes in a jar and includes a kabuki brush for application, mattifies any oil and grease in the hair. It also had a lightweight feel throughout the day—it didn’t weigh down even ultrafine hair—but added serious volume. One tester said she could go three days without washing her hair after just one application. However, the application process itself can be a bit tricky. Because the included kabuki brush has soft, gentle bristles, it can pick up an unnecessarily large amount of product, which can get messy. We recommend tapping the brush over the jar to eliminate any extra product, which will help prevent spills or over-applying.

Derek Deng, associate content editor with fine hair: “This dry shampoo formula did a fantastic job at oil absorption, mattifying the oil and grease in my hair and helping to freshen it up.”

Best Blendable

Odele Dry Shampoo

$12

$11 at Amazon$12 at Ulta$12 at Target

 Size: 1 oz | Scent: Fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes

There’s nothing worse than a dry shampoo that won’t blend and fade away. Luckily, this pick passed our blending test with flying colors. It effortlessly camouflages into the darkest of hair colors and helps improve the overall texture, too. While it may feel a bit gritty at first, rubbing it in or brushing it out transformed our hair into a smooth, voluminous look. This powdery formula is a true powerhouse and absorbs excess oil while also masking limp strands. The cherry on top: It has a light, fresh, neutral fragrance, with notes of cucumber, oakmoss, and ylang-ylang that’s anything but overpowering.

Katherine, tester with type 1A hair: “The product comes out as a white powder, which is stark compared to my dark hair, but it takes absolutely no effort to rub it in and make it blend in. With just a minute or two, you can’t see it anymore.”

Best Lightweight

Vegamour Gro Dry Shampoo

$36

$35 at Amazon$36 at SephoraView on Vegamour.com

Size: 1 oz | Scent: Natural citrus | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A lightweight dry shampoo may sound unimpressive, but this pick from Vegamour packs a punch. Formulated to give the appearance of denser, fuller hair, this plant-based gem gave our tester’s do a thicker appearance while absorbing excess oil. The product feels virtually weightless and blends seamlessly with just our fingertips (a win-win in our books). If you’re in search of a lightweight hero that will give fine hair a fuller look, we highly recommend trying out this pick. We only wish it were more volumizing at the roots.

Laura, tester with 2b hair type: “It actually works very well clearing up excess oil and grease in your next-day hair, but also has other benefits such as volume support and balancing your scalp’s ecosystem by using natural ingredients.”

Best Fragrance-Free

I DEW CARE Tap Secret Dry Shampoo Powder

$18

$18 at AmazonView on Idewcare.com

$18

$12 at Nordstromrack.com

Size: 0.24 oz | Scent: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Many dry shampoos are scented, but a fragrance-free formula can still impart the same oil-absorbing and volumizing benefits—all without risk for those who tend to be sensitive to fragrance. We tested this one on post-workout hair; it surprised us how well it absorbed oil after just one application. It also made the hair feel cleaner and imparted volume and texture, resulting in an instantly polished look that lasted all day.

Even though the product looks white when first applied, it blends easily—even into dark hair—and doesn’t leave a white residue. Bonus: Its compact size (a 0.24-ounce jar) makes it especially great for travel. This powder formula does have a learning curve, but the application mechanism is pretty precise. Translation: Preventing a mess is easy once you get used to it.

Lauren, tester with wavy hair: “It gave my hair nice volume and texture; it didn’t feel sticky, and my hair never looked fluffy or weighed down—it still looked polished by the end of the day.”

Best for Fine Hair

Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo

$26 at Amazon$52 at SephoraView on Dermstore

Size: 8.7 oz| Scent: Côte d’Azur | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Reach for Oribe’s Gold Lust Dry Shampoo if your fine hair could use a serious volume boost between washes (raises hand). It’s simple to apply—the spray was fine and easy to control—and Deng said the formula blended quickly and didn’t leave any buildup. Post-application, the product gave hair a serious boost of volume and body without weighing it down, which is a true game-changer for fine hair, in particular. Oribe’s signature Côte d’Azur scent—with notes of Calabrian bergamot, white butterfly jasmine, and sandalwood—felt subtle and very luxurious. An instant mood-booster. Although this product enabled some testers to go three days without washing their hair, we would make it slightly more oil-absorbing.

Derek Deng, associate content editor with fine hair: “My hair felt refreshed whenever I used this dry shampoo; I went without washing my hair for three days. Also, I’m super picky with my fragrances, but this one was subtle and very luxurious.”

Best Smelling

Saltair Dry Shampoo

$13 at TargetView on Saltair.com

Size: 4 oz | Scent: Sandalwood, amber, musk | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A scent in a dry shampoo is a delicate balance. Ideally, it’s noticeable but not overpowering and should never smell artificial or chemical-like. Saltair’s Dry Shampoo hit all the right notes (pun intended) with its warm blend of sandalwood, amber, and musk; we felt it was just strong enough without feeling like hair perfume. (Think: your hair but better.) It’s the best-smelling dry shampoo we’ve tested, full stop.

The formula itself was standout, too. It’s very simple to use—its nozzle made it easy to spray directly onto the scalp—and no residue was in sight. After just one application, it also added volume and helped extend the time between washes. However, it may be slightly too drying for curly or oily hair types, which require more moisture. Our tester with type 4B/4C hair said her hair felt stiffer, though not weighed down after testing, though she still felt this formula was worth buying. It’s also great for travel; it takes up very little space in a bag, and the cap always stays secure.

Bianca, tester with type 4B/4C hair: “My hair is coily and blonde, so it needs more moisture. After applying this product, my hair had more volume, but it also felt a little stiffer.  Also, its scent was just enough without feeling like you’re wearing hair perfume.”

Best for Very Oily Hair

IGK First Class Charcoal Dry Shampoo

$34

$31 at Amazon$34 at SephoraView on Ulta

Size: 6.3 oz | Scent: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Picture this: You’re sweaty, walking around during a summer heat wave, but there’s no time to wash, dry, and style your hair before your next engagement. IGK’s First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo—which includes, yes, oil-absorbing charcoal, as well as soothing white tea powder—is designed to help with that. And it really delivers. We tested it in 90-degree weather when a combo of sweat, oil, and grime set in on the scalp. After applying it, our tester’s scalp felt refreshed and clean; the product effectively zapped any oil and visibly refreshed the hair. No white cast in sight, either. The only minor downside is that it didn’t increase volume as well as other products on this list, but because it was so effective in other ways, we feel it’s worth the investment.

Bianca, tester with type 4B/4C hair: “This one was great for me post-workout on an almost 90-degree day. My scalp felt refreshed, though it didn’t add volume. I’ll be using this in the future after workouts to zap oil and sweat.”

Best for Coily Hair

Prose Custom Dry Shampoo

View on Prose.com

Size: 1.4 oz | Scent: Custom | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Prose is known and loved for its ultra-customizable hair care formulas, and this dry shampoo—here, explicitly tailored for coily 4B/4C hair—didn’t disappoint. While its powder formula was a little tricky to use, applying the correct amount took a few tries—its cream color blended seamlessly onto the roots. From there, it worked magic on an incredibly oily scalp, soaking up any excess oil without drying the hair. The result was clean-feeling curls that felt soft to the touch. Its smell wasn’t noticeable at all, which our tester loved. Overall, from day one to wash day, it extended the time between washes by four days and left curls feeling great.

Bianca, tester with type 4B/4C hair: “I had a lot of extra oil on my roots and lengths from an Ayurvedic Shirodhara treatment—I was literally dripping oil. However, once I placed this dry shampoo on my roots and length, it soaked up the excess oil without drying out my hair. Also, crucially, it left enough oil in my hair so that my hair/scalp still benefited from my treatment. I went four extra days without washing my hair!”

Best for Dry Hair

DevaCurl DRY NO-POO Moisturizing Dry Shampoo

$34

$33 at Amazon

$34

$6 at UltaView on Dermstore

Size: 6 oz | Scent: Green oasis | Cruelty-Free: Yes

A dry shampoo that’s both hydrating and oil-absorbing may seem like a bit of an oxymoron, but DevaCurl has done it with its Dry No-Poo Moisturizing Dry Shampoo, formulated for curly hair (which can dry out more easily). When our tester, Bianca, applied this product for the first time, she instantly noticed its hydrating effect on her type 4B/4C hair—and the effect lasted for several days, too. At the same time, it absorbed oil effectively. She also loved that, even though the product came out of the bottle looking white, it blended seamlessly into dark hair. (Our tester noticed a bit of residue on the scalp post-application, though.) Another caveat: this product may not offer enough hydration for coily hair—we advise following up with a second product, like an aloe, to revitalize curls from root to tip.

Bianca, tester with type 4B/4C hair: “I love the hydration this formula added to my roots; it lasted until I washed my hair a couple of days later. This is probably a one-and-done product for looser curls, but for coily hair, you’d need to follow up with another product to truly put the spring back in your curls.”

Best Long-Lasting

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Dry Shampoo

$33

$32 at Amazon$33 at Sephora$45 at Ulta

 Size: 5.5 oz | Scent: Subtle fresh | Cruelty-Free: Yes

For those looking for a dry shampoo that significantly extends the time between washes, reach for Living Proof’s Perfect Hair Day (PhD) Advanced Clean Dry Shampoo. Our tester found that it kept her 2B/C hair looking fresh for an extra day beyond her usual routine, allowing her to go four days without washing instead of three. Also, its spray application was simple and easy, and while it initially leaves a noticeable white cast, it blends in well with thorough massaging. Once worked in, the results speak for themselves: She raved that it delivered clean-feeling roots, a boost of volume, and hair that looks freshly styled even days after washing.

The biggest downside is its initial white cast, which requires a few extra minutes of blending—especially for those with darker roots. However, given the time it saves compared to a full wash and style, she felt it was 100% worth the effort and is her go-to for travel, weddings, and vacations when her hair needs to stay fresh for as long as possible.

Caitlyn Martyn, former associate editor with fine, 2B/C hair: “I was able to go four days without washing—as opposed to my usual three—when I first tried this dry shampoo. My hair looked and felt clean and voluminous, especially at the roots.”

Best for Travel

Briogeo Dry Shampoo Puff

$28

$27 at Amazon

$28

$27 at Sephora$28 at Ulta

 Size: 0.5 oz | Scent: None | Cruelty-Free: Yes

Briogeo’s Dry Shampoo Puff is our top pick for the best travel-friendly dry shampoo for its innovative and mess-free application. Unlike more traditional aerosol or powder formulas, this dry shampoo is dispensed through a compact sponge tip that releases just the right amount of product with each pat. Our tester found that applying it was both easy and precise—perfect for quick touch-ups on the go. Its lightweight formula absorbed oil effectively, refreshing her fine 2B/C hair and boosting volume, particularly at her roots; it also helped maintain her curls longer, preventing the usual flat, slippery texture that she says often follows a long day.

While the formula initially left a white cast, she found she could easily blend it by massaging it into the scalp. She also wished for a bit more product in the base—it comes in an ultra-compact 0.5-ounce size—but appreciated that a little went a long way. Overall, with its unique, portable design and its ability to refresh hair without creating a mess, this dry shampoo is a must-have for anyone looking for an effective option while on the move.

Caitlyn Martyn, former associate editor with fine, 2B/C hair: “I love the ease of use of this dry shampoo—it deposits the perfect amount of product with each pat and doesn’t get all over the place. It absorbed oil and refreshed my hair completely.”